Skill and fitness rating system for mountain bike

You’ve never ridden a mountain bike before.

You’re hooked on riding off-road and wide dirt trails (gravel trails or doubletrack), but still lack the skills and confidence to consistently ride terrain with roots, rocks, tight corners, tight trees and steeps.

Singletrack – what is singletrack?

Your dedication to mountain biking has led you to your first handful of rides on real singletrack.You enjoy the smooth mellow singletrack, although often the trees feel too tight, the climbs come too quick to shift and have you walking, and the obstacles have you a bit surprised as you did not even know people ride right over logs!

TERRAIN

• At a controlled speed and on mellow singletrack terrain, you are comfortable riding a variety of singletrack which may include tight trees, mud, loose rocks and sand.

OBSTACLES

• You are comfortable and confident rolling over small obstacles (a couple inches high) like roots, rocks and small rollable drops (a couple inches high). You do not take your wheels off the ground.

TERRAIN

• You are comfortable riding a variety of singletrack which may include tight trees, mud, loose rocks and sand and are comfortable doing so on aggressive terrain with little braking.

OBSTACLES

• You can hop over obstacles such as small roots and rocks that less advanced riders may wheel lift over.
• You are comfortable and confident with a front wheel lift and rear wheel lift to get up and over larger obstacles (up to 20cm) such as roots and rocks that are not rollable.

TERRAIN

• You are comfortable riding a variety of singletrack which may include tight trees, mud, loose rocks and sand and are comfortable doing so on aggressive terrain with little braking. You rarely, if ever, walk.

OBSTACLES

• You often hop over obstacles such as roots and rocks that less advanced riders may wheel lift over.
• Small drops are no issue for you and you are comfortable with having both wheels leave the ground.

BIKE PARK

• If you have ridden a bike park, you are comfortable on all green, blue, black and double black trails.

• You are a couch potato.
• You cannot ride for more than half an hour on flat terrain at a time, and the thought of climbing on a bike is daunting.
• You exercise less than 1 hour per week.

• You live a fairly sedentary life with little physical activity other than walking.
• You can handle a 1 hour bike ride on flat terrain at a relaxed pace.
• Small, short hills are challenging to climb, but are sometimes manageable.
• You exercise on average 1 hour per week.

• You are capable of 2 hours of pedal time in a day at a relaxed pace, as long as there are several breaks.
• You can handle one or two easy climbs of up to 150 vertical metres (330 ft.) total.
• You exercise on average 2 hours per week (including riding a mountain bike).

• You are capable of riding at a moderate pace for an average of 2 hours of pedal time a day.
• You are capable of climbing up to 200 vertical metres (650 ft.) in a day.
• You exercise on average 3 hours per week.
• Your exercise regime includes a combination of endurance training like riding a bike and strength training.

• You are capable of riding at a moderate pace for an average of 3 hours of pedal time a day.
• You are confident climbing up to a total of 300 vertical metres (1,000 ft.) in a day.
• You exercise on average 4 hours per week.
• Your exercise regime includes a combination of endurance training like riding a bike and strength training or running.

• You are capable of riding at a moderate pace for an average of 4 hours of pedal time a day.
• You can handle moderate climbs up to 750 vertical metres (2,450 ft) total in a day.
• You exercise on average 6 hours per week.
• Your exercise regime includes a combination of endurance training like riding a bike and strength training or running.